These influential clans lead by example, appealing to the better angels of our nature.

Reeve

Reeve

Christopher's patrician elegance and quiet heroism came through not only on-screen, in the Superman movies, but offscreen, in his activist and philanthropic contributions. The son of poet and scholar F.D. Reeve and great-grandson of Franklin D'Olier, the first national commander of the American Legion, Reeve studied at Cornell and Juilliard before being discovered by Katharine Hepburn. In 1995 he was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident; since then the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has contributed more than $48.5 million to spinal cord repair research and nearly $15 million in quality-of-life grants. His daughter Alexandra is an attorney who serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, son Matthew is a filmmaker, and youngest son William is a college junior.

Matthew, Alexandra, and Will Reeve, photographed for Town & Country last year.

Manning

Manning

It's little wonder the Mannings are called the First Family of Football. Patriarch Archie and two of his sons, Eli and Peyton, have thrown the pigskin for a total of six NFL teams, and the boys have matching Super Bowl rings (Eli: 2; Peyton: 1) and MVP awards. The eldest son, Cooper, was an all-state high school receiver, but his career ended when he was 18 after a diagnosis of spinal stenosis. The Manning household, run by Ole Miss homecoming queen Olivia, is based in New Orleans. In addition to raising millions for children's causes, both Eli and Peyton helped deliver 30,000 pounds of supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Peyton Manning carries his brothers Eli and Cooper for a portrait in New Orleans, 1996.